Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.

On August 13, 2006 I found a what looked like a gorgeous 1995 Mercedes Benz E320 Convertible listed for auction on eBay by Hannah Import USA. The car was listed as "one of a kind, well kept, low miles"...It is Navy Blue, one owner car with a mere 59,000 miles on it. Further, the listing included an insertion of Kelly Blue Book's retail value for the car: $23,000 +.

In an effort to learn more about the car, I contacted the dealer's salesman, Shawn Yazdani, by telephone. Shawn was delightful over the phone. He described the car as being in excellent condition. I asked numerous question including whether or not the car was in anyway modified. He said that the car was completely stock except for the AMG 18" wheels.

He went on to say that he had recently driven the car and that it was a beautiful example of the E320 convertibles. He assured me that the car was every bit as perfect as the listing on eBay stated and, that I should feel completely confident in buying the car as it was being sold by a "licensed dealer" that sells more than 300 cars each month.

Persuaded by his claims, the eBay listing, and the positive eBay feedback and Hannah Import USA's stated committment to customer satisfaction, I elected to purchase the car over the phone and did so, providing Shawn with my credit card information. I later sent the balance of the amount due via a cashiers check. Total with shipping: $21,000.

Two weeks later, the car arrived in CT from Florida. It was immediately clear to me that the car was not as described by Shawn or in the eBay listing. While the paint looked good, the interior had many broken and cracked parts and had been repainted (badly) with overspray on buttons. As well, the soft-top went down but refused to go up. And, numerous other problems were immediately apparent.

The most severe of which was that the car was not safe to drive. Upon reaching 30 - 35 miles per hour the car's front end began to vibrate violently. During braking, the car would swerve from side to side. It was terrifying and very upsetting. I immediately took the car to my local repair shop for diagnosis and repair. They immediately determined that the suspension had been modified (lowered) and that the tie-rods were dangerously worn. Additionally, they noted fluid leaks and a series of other cosmetic and mechanical problems. Their prelimary estimate for repairs: $6,000.

I called Shawn Yazdani immediately and explained the situation and my extreme shock and dismay. He expressed surprise at first and then began to make excuses. I said that we would simply like to return the car. He stated that he would speak with the owner of the company. I never heard back from him. I called him repeatedly and while he was always pleasant and claimed he'd see what he could do, he never did a thing.

I next took the car to the local Mercedes Dealer for a complete diagnosis. They were stunned by the poor mechanical condition of the car and suggested it be returned to the seller. Their estimate for repairs totalled $12,000 not including other repairs that might be diagnosed following the first round of repairs.

Again, I attempted to contact Shawn Yazdani and his company's owner, Saeid Nikpour both by phone, via fax and via email. They have yet to respond.

The listing on eBay was entirely misleading and fraudulent.Inserting Kelly Blue Book's value as they did, they employed the quality standards of a nationally respected 3rd party to define the term "excellent"..According to KBB:

"Excellent" means that the vehicle looks new, is in excellent mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning. This vehicle has never had any paint or body work and is free of rust. The vehicle has a clean title history and will pass a smog and safety inspection. The engine compartment is clean, with no fluid leaks and is free of any wear or visible defects. This vehicle also has complete and verifiable service records...

Clearly, I was led to believe that the "as-is" condition of this car was Excellent as described above. It is not even close.

Shawn blatantly lied to me, selling me a car that has severe defects and requires repairs that will cost 60 rto 70% of what was paid for the car. Shawn Yazdani, Saeid Nikpour and the companies that they operate under are perpetrating fraud and, quite possibly, placing lives at risk by selling dangerous and defective cars.

Adding insult to injury, I have not yet received the title. I am stuck. I can't presently repair, sell or use the car.

Please, buyer beware. My experience of these people and companies is that they are not honorable or honest.

Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.

AUTHOR: Pedro Talavera - (USA)

I am very surprised to see people still will buy a car from another area with out having an independent company inspect it. Why will you trust a sales man? Haven't people learned yet?

The car was about 22K, the repairs where 12K at the dealer. Very posible, not as the owner says imposible.

Look, do yourself a favor and if you are buying a car in So Fla, call me or any other professional car/truck inspector. You will get your money's worth. Do not trust the salesman brother or send your uncle who used to be a mechanic 40 years ago, cars have changed quite a bit.

Avoid hassels, legal complications. Spend a little now instead of a lot later. More over, the money you spend on an inspection is ussually returned when you get a rebate on the car/truck's price thanks to what was found wrong during the inspection. The inspection could be free.

AUTHOR: Victor - (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Sunday, November 26, 2006

POSTED: Sunday, November 26, 2006

Well 1st off I have bought 4 vehicles from ebay. Ranging from $150.00 all the way to $5,000. As with any other place you buy a car it is what it is. You could have easily gotten another crappy car locally from an individual. NEVER NEVER NEVER expect anything that is advertised as excellent to be pristine. As with ANY used car you have to expect things that will have to be replaced. $12K for repair on a Mercedes?

ANY GERMAN high end auto will cost you thousands for repairs. Routine brake jobs on a benz will usually run about 1500 at a dealer and the parts are outrageous.

Wht do people get stuff on ebay. Mainly because they cant get things locally. I just bought a project car that i looked around for a lot. Sure i have to drive 200 miles to get it but there wasnt anythng local. Maybe the books and dvd's that i got for the kids too that you just cant get at local stores. It just isnt full of crap that people are trying to unload.

AUTHOR: Thomas - (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Saturday, November 25, 2006

POSTED: Saturday, November 25, 2006

I looked at many cars, and one minor detail or another usually killed my interest in each one. Until I found a 1 year old Honda Accord that "looked good" and had a "good writeup". So I bid and I then had the winning bid that was nicely below the Black Book and NADA Orange Book. Everything was quiet. 30 min to go, 15 min to go, 5 min to go.....

Oops. 5 minutes before close the auction was canceled by the seller. So the buyer cannot back out, but the seller can. Did not seem right, so I sent an email to the seller.

Seller responded that the price simply was not high enough so he killed the auction. Well, gosh, isn't an auction supposed to determine the true price a willing buyer would pay?

Seller also responded that at least he was honest because he did not use shills and that many other car sellers on ebay motors do use shills.

AUTHOR: Paul - (U.S.A.)

If you have a rusty old car that nobody wants, your only way out is to find some sucker on ebay to unload it on.

Good stuff sells to local buyers. You don't have to wait for any ebay auctions.

But, the garbage that nobody wants has got to go on ebay. Either that, or get the junkyard to haul it away.

I don't know why in the world people continue to think that they will be getting this great deal-of-a-lifetime on ebay.

Maybe, maybe, I could see risking $5 or $10 on something small. But, to think of purchasing something like a car? And, especially for twenty grand?

The absolute most that you should have paid was junkyard value. Hundreds. Not thousands.

Where is this big savings here?

Whatever. No matter what you tell people, they will always go right back to that trash dump and continue looking for those great once-in-a-lifetime bargains.

Like I always say, the fraud stops when the money ends.

Once people exhaust all their savings and max out their credit cards, they'll be forced to do the correct thing. That is, look at the pretty picture on ebay, and then click the little box in the upper right-hand corner.

That's all it's really good for. Looking and reading. As long as you never actually buy anything off the internet, you will never end up in this situation.

I've known people who have sold stuff on ebay. They all laugh at the buyers and call them idiots. I once went to look at an RV that was listed on ebay. It was local, so I called the guy up and got directions. The photos looked great. And, over the phone, the guy told me that it was a low-mileage, clean motorhome.

So, I show up. Guess what? Ex-rental unit. Smoked in. Somebody must have had a dog in there for a while. Broken window. And crashed fender. Junk. Not even close to book value. High-mileage, ex-rental fleet junk. A million people took that RV for the weekend and beat the hell out of it.

There's your big ebay bargain!

And, that shows you exactly why the trash was on ebay in the first place. In person, $2,500 max. On ebay, $18,000 plus shipping.

I pity the fool that ended up with that albatross.

Whatever. The only way out that I can see is to put the thing back on ebay. Let that one of a kind junker get passed around until everyone on ebay has had a chance to see it in their driveway.

Eventually, some kid will get the things and think that he got a great deal. Once that happens, problem solved. Another satisfied buyer! I can hear the ebay jingle playing in the background.

List the vehicle the same way that it was represented to you. As for the title, give em Shahin's number. Cross your fingers, and hope. That's your out in this ebay scam. Good luck. You're gonna need it.

On a positive note, you may have prevented a few thousand cautious people from getting stuck with junk. Millions of people come here. After they read your horror-story, they'll never even think of buying anything off of ebay. Plus, you gained some leverage with the junkyard that sold you this crap. As soon as the search engines pick up this page, it'll come up every time people google the name.

AUTHOR: Shahin - (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Saturday, November 25, 2006

POSTED: Saturday, November 25, 2006

WE AT HANNAH IMPORT ALWAYS DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE ALL OUR CLIENTS GET THE BEST QUALITY CARS AT VERY COMPETETIVE PRICES, WE ALWAYS WORK WITH OUR CLIENTS IN CASE OF ANY ISSUES. WE WELCOME INSPECTION BEFORE DELIVERY OR PAYMENT. WE NEVER INTENTIONALLY MISLEAD ANYONE. THESE CLAIMS ARE OVER BLOWN AND FALSE. HOW COULD A CAR THAT COST $17K HAVE $12K IN REPAIRS RIDICULOUS!!!!!, I HAVE SOLD OVER 500 CARS ON EBAY AND HAVE A 99.1% POSITIVE RATING, I HOPE YOU BELIEVE THE 500 NOT JUST ONE,
SINCERELY
SHAWN YAZDANI

Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.